USO Freedom Lounge needs supplies for Christmas rush

Published: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 05:10 PM.

VALPARAISO — The holidays are a time of mass exodus for hundreds of service members attending schools at bases in Northwest Florida.

Once released from their courses, there is a mad dash to get back home. That dash often begins at Northwest Florida Regional Airport.
That’s when the USO Freedom Lounge kicks into high gear.

Starting Friday, the lounge will be open 24 hours through Christmas to provide support for service members who may face long waits or delays while trying to get home.

“It’s just a service we can provide to these young service members,” said Diane Freeman, the Freedom Lounge’s manager. “We provide them their temporary home away from home until they do get home.”

The USO expects crowds to come in waves. Many will come from the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal School and from ground combat training at Eglin Air Force Base. Still others will arrive from schools in Panama City and Pensacola, Freeman said.

The bases usually bus students to the airport all at once. Sometimes they will wait an hour for their flights. Sometimes it will be five hours and sometimes it will be 12.

While they wait, the USO will be ready with drinks, snacks, entertainment and a place to sleep overnight if needed.

For its Holiday Exodus program this year, the Freedom Lounge is looking for supplies such as bottled water, cans of soda, juice boxes, individual bags of chips or peanuts, cereal/granola bars and foods that can be cooked in the microwave and do not require refrigeration. Monetary donations also are welcome.

To drop off donations, call 609-4738 and the volunteer on duty will step outside the terminal to help unload the items.

VALPARAISO — The holidays are a time of mass exodus for hundreds of service members attending schools at bases in Northwest Florida.

Once released from their courses, there is a mad dash to get back home. That dash often begins at Northwest Florida Regional Airport.
That’s when the USO Freedom Lounge kicks into high gear.

Starting Friday, the lounge will be open 24 hours through Christmas to provide support for service members who may face long waits or delays while trying to get home.

“It’s just a service we can provide to these young service members,” said Diane Freeman, the Freedom Lounge’s manager. “We provide them their temporary home away from home until they do get home.”

The USO expects crowds to come in waves. Many will come from the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal School and from ground combat training at Eglin Air Force Base. Still others will arrive from schools in Panama City and Pensacola, Freeman said.

The bases usually bus students to the airport all at once. Sometimes they will wait an hour for their flights. Sometimes it will be five hours and sometimes it will be 12.

While they wait, the USO will be ready with drinks, snacks, entertainment and a place to sleep overnight if needed.

For its Holiday Exodus program this year, the Freedom Lounge is looking for supplies such as bottled water, cans of soda, juice boxes, individual bags of chips or peanuts, cereal/granola bars and foods that can be cooked in the microwave and do not require refrigeration. Monetary donations also are welcome.

To drop off donations, call 609-4738 and the volunteer on duty will step outside the terminal to help unload the items.